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==History of The Critical Path Method (CPM) ==


During the early 1950s the traditional project management approach started to fail due to the complexity of coordinate multiples activities in the direction of the same project objective. Hence, the development of a tool that was able to organize the sequence of activities and schedule them was needed. The critical path method or CPM was developed in the 1950s by two engineers, Morgan R. Walker, working for the DuPont Corporation, and James E. Kelly working for Remington Rand. The development of this tool has its foundations on the work of DuPont Corporation from the earlier 1940s in the so recognized Manhattan Project.<ref name="pp.160">Critical-Path Planning and Scheduling, 1959, James E. Kelly & Morgan R. Walker, pp.160-161</ref> 
 
Large building projects like the development of chemical and nuclear power facilities were the first ones to apply the critical route technique. Although it swiftly found uses in a variety of sectors, including as software development, manufacturing, and services. The 1960s and 1970s saw a significant increase in the use of CPM as a tool for managing big and complex projects. It was especially helpful for projects that called for the coordination of several interdependent activities as well as resources and timelines. <ref name="pp.160" />

CPM is still often employed in project management today and is included in several project management software programs. The tool has also been modified to consider modifications in project management procedures, such as the expanding usage of Agile approaches and virtual teams.